India’s preparation for the Olympics should be a continuous process and the authorities should not wake up just months before the commencement of the ‘greatest show on earth’, former Olympians said.
They were speaking at a panel discussion here “In search of glory: India’s prospects in the 2024 Olympics” organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce at a city hotel on Friday night.
Hockey icon Gurbux Singh, a member of the gold-winning hockey team in 1964 Olympics and bronze-winning team in 1968 Olympics, underscored the importance of inculcating a sports culture among the youth, to have sporting infrastructure and grounds at every educational institution.
“We wake up when the Olympics comes. The whole country wakes up. That attitude must change,” he said, adding that 90 per cent of parents want their children to pursue vocations other than sports.
Gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who missed the bronze narrowly in the 2016 Rio Olympics by finishing fourth at the vault event, said: “One should have the will power to achieve everything…”
Recalling how a former foreign coach had discouraged her from trying the difficult vault event in gymnastics, Karmakar asked every aspiring girl to turn every disadvantage and adversity in her favour, to fight any discrimination and make the motherland proud.
“And I really saw how ecstatic and amazing the response of people were to my arrival. I still remember the motivational words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who amazed me the way he narrated every minute detail of my performance,” she said.
To a question by moderator Boria Majumder, Karmakar said she is expecting a “double-digit medal tally” in athletics in the coming Olympics.
“But as I said, our preparations should continue throughout the year, in four years, continuously,” she added.
“We need more support from states to back budding talents from not-so-affluent families,” he added.
India’s heptathlon sensation Soma Biswas said “Previously one had to nourish the ultimate dream to be an Olympian which needs to be transformed in the belief to win Olympics medal,” including the yellow metal.
Commonwealth Chess Championship winner Pravin Thipsay said the country is already a chess superpower.
“There has to be an outstanding achievement by an individual,” Thipsay said.
Asked about any possibility of chess being included in future editions of the Olympics, he said Gary Kasparov had mooted the suggestion in past.
“They (IOC) must have their own standards. The future inclusion of chess in Olympics… administrators have to make the move,” he said.
Thipsay pointed out the 44th Chess Olympiad was participated by 186 countries which is not a small number.
Ex-Olympian Archer Rahul Banerjee said a sportsperson should always learn from failure.
“If you win in your first tournament you celebrate and if you lose the next tourney you are branded as a failure,” he said.
Majumder chipped in “Sports is the only thing where both success and failures are celebrated in public.
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First Published: Jul 13 2024 | 1:17 PM IST
